Ship to ship, ship to shore, and shore to ship air mail transfer system and apparatus



Sept. 11, 1934. s ADAMS 1,973,244

SHIP TO SHIP, SHIP TO SHORE, AND SHORE TO SHIP AIR MAIL TRANSFER SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed July 22, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l M ammqd Sept. 11, 1934. s D MS 1,973,244

SHIP TO SHIP, SHIP TO SHORE, AND SHORE TO SHIP AIR MAIL TRANSFER SYSTEM AND APPARATUS 1 Filed July 22, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwwmtoo Patented Sept. 11, 1934- UNITED STATES SHIF TO SHIP, SHIP TO SHORE, AND SHORE TO SHIP- AIR MAIL TRANSFERSYSTEM' AND APPARATUS,

LytleS. Adams, New York, N. Y. Application July 22,1930, Serial No. 469,909

11 Claims.

This invention relates to the transfer of mail, light. express matter, bundles of newspapers and other objects the delivery of which to their addresses it is the object of this invention to expedite, for example, after crossing the ocean upon a transatlantic steamer, or to catch a steamer after its departure.

The invention comprises a system wherein a boom or outwardly extending arm is located on the steamer, from which the objects to be delivered or picked up may be suspended in a sack, net, tarpaulin or other suitable container, in combina- .tion with a receiving and dispatching hopper or trap upon a lighter, tug or other comparatively small vessel from which the articles. delivered thereto may be transported'toshore by aircraft or fast cruiser, or by landing the vessel at a nearby point, and which may be reached by airplane or fast cruiser from shore for dispatching late mail or packages to the steamer.

The invention further comprises improved means for releasing from the suspending means the sack, net or the like upon catching it in the trap on the smaller vessel, and for picking up a waiting load from the smaller vessel and depositing it upon the steamer.

Illustrative apparatus for carrying out the system is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a schematic representation in front perspective of a large vessel and a smaller vessel equipped with suitable apparatus in the act-of transferring a container from the larger to the smaller vessel, and also showing an airplane fiying away with a container picked up from the smaller. vessel;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view in side elevation of a suitableboom or'arm for use in the system, showing the reel for lowering and raising the .40. grapple and a suitable sheave for guiding the suspending cable on the outer end of the boom or arm;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the smaller vessel showing the hopper or trap for catching the descend- 5 ing carrier and its attached load, and the cooperating grapple device in position to be picked up by the anchor on the suspending cable for transferring a load from the smaller vessel to the larger one;

Fig. 4 is an axial section of a suitable automatic grapple device for attaching the descending load to the cable and releasing it at the proper time;

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section through t e nose portion of a hopper or trap suitable for locating on the deck of the smaller vessel for receiving the load and guiding the anchor end. of the cable to the grapple or attaching means for the ascending load;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the same, showing the grapple in section on the line 77 in Fig. 5; and

Fig. '7 is a plan view of a suitable automatic grapple device for securing the ascending load to the cable.

The system utilizes some of the features illustrated and described in my Patent No. 1,758,880, dated May 13, 1930, for effecting contact between a moving airplane and a ground station, and embraces improved apparatus useful for transferring articles from an airplane to a ship or other moving carrier or to the ground, and vice versa, as well as for transferring articles from one, vessel to another while at least one of the two is under way.

The steamer 10 depicted in Fig. 1 is provided with a boom 11 pivoted alongside the deck at a convenient point by a universal joint 12 or other suitable means, and adapted to be swung outboard by falls or guys 13 as shown. At the outer end of the boom is a sheave 14 (see Fig. 2) over which the cable 15 is led thatsupports the load 16, and a power reel 1'7 on deck adjacent to the pivot 12 is provided for paying out and taking in the cable. On the outer end of the cable is the anchor for the grapple device, which in the for illustrated is a ball 18..

The load'of mail, express parcels, and other articles to be delivered from the steamer may be placed in a strong sack, bale or other suitable container 16, and suspended from the anchor 18 by a suitable grapple 19 to which the sack or bale may be attached by a flexible connection 20 (see Fig. 2). The body of the grapple 19 may conveniently .be made of a tube to the inner wall of which the grapple fingers 21 are pivoted near the upper "end. These fingers embrace the anchor ball 18 in normal position, and are retained in engagement therewith by outwardly extending detents 22 which are encompassed by the locking sleeve 23. The locking sleeve is normally held in locking position by a spring pressed detent 24, 1

but upon striking an obstacle, such as the nose of the trap as hereinafter described, the sleeve is forced back on the body of the grapple, thereby permitting the fingers 21 to fly apart and release the anchor ball.. The grapple 19 may be connected to the flexible connector 20 by means of a bail 25 or other suitable means permitting freedom of movement.

The hopper or trap 30 on the smaller vessel 31 has a wide flaring mouth or entering'end 32 facing the stern of the vessel, and the stern deck 33 is sloped up into the mouth of the trap. This deck is made as wide as convenient without interfering with the seaworthiness of the craft. The

side walls 34 of the hopper slope upwards and are turned inwards along their upper edges, and converge at the throat in a small-orifice or chute, terminating in a nose piece 35 for detaching the descending grapple 19 and attaching the ascending grapple (see Figs. 5 and-6). The nose piece 35 may be provided with a bolted flange section 36 for attaching it to the contracted end of the side walls 34 of the trap, and with side flanges 38 for supporting the latch mechanism 39 of the catapult or other projecting mechanism for launching the ascending bag, as more fully de scribed in my Patent No. 1,818,835.

42 on the side opposite the opening. The open side of the ring 41 is provided with two cars 43 for supporting the bail 44, which has a pair of trunnions 45 pivoted therein. The bail is preferably made long and narrow, the width being sufficient to pass the cable 15 freely, but much narrower than the diameter of the anchor 18, and its extremity 46 is bent laterally to form a seat for the anchor and assist in taking up the shock of picking up 'the ascending load. The ends 4'7 of the bail flt intonotches 48 in the end of the nose 35 to support the bail in approximate alinement with the throat when the grapple is in position for being picked up.

Thus the anchor ball 18, upon emerging from the throat through the end of the nose, will pick up the bail 44 and carry it along with its ring 41 and attached load, at the same time tripping the catapult latch 39 and causing the load to be projected outwardly and upwardlyalong the line of movement of the anchor ball and thereby greatly diminishing the' shock upon the cable and boom or other suspending device. The cable may then be reeled up and the boom swung in alongside of the deck, whereupon the ascending load may be takena ard and detached. Upon picking up the load, e ball 44 will turn on its trunnions 45 and the ends47 will close the opening in the ring (see Fig. '7) to prevent the ball from passing back through it and disengage the connection prematurely.

Similarly, light packages and mail may be dropped and picked up by an airplane 50 suitably equipped with a trailing cable 51 and anchor 52. In Fig. 1 the airplane is depicted after picking up a sack 53 from the smaller vessel 31. Thus contacts may be made between airplanes and large steamers approaching port by sending out a small vessel equipped with a suitable trap to wait in the path of the larger vessel and dispatching mail and express packages to and from shore by airplane to be picked up the more urgent mail and packages from the smaller vessel after the latter makes contact with the steamship. By attaching a small float 54 to a short line 55 depending from the descending bag, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the airplane pilot can locate the surface of the water and make sure that he is flying at the right height for the bag to be at.

the proper elevation to enter the mouth of the hopper.

tions, and the invention is not restricted to the apparatus and modes of use thereof illustrated.

I claim the following as my invention: 1. In a system of aerial transfer for mail, ex-

press and other loads between relatively movable nection between said load suspending member and the load, said detachable connection comprising an anchor on the load suspending member and a grapple attached to the load having a hollow body adapted to receive the anchor, pivoted elements therein embracing said anchor, and a movable sleeve surrounding said body and normally locking said pivoted elements in engaging position, and movable axially thereof to release said pivoted elements upon contacting with the throat of said hopper.

2. In a system of aerial transfer for mail express and other loads between relatively movable air or water craft, a supporting means upon a movable craft, a load suspending member carried thereby and trailing-therefrom, and a detachable connection between said load suspending member and the load, said detachable connection comprising an anchor on the load suspending member and a grapple attached to the load having a hollow body adapted to receive the anchor, pivoted elements therein embracing said anchor, and a movable sleeve surrounding said body and normally locking said pivoted elements in engaging position, and movable axially thereof to release said pivoted elements upon contacting with an obstruction.

3. A detachable connection for a system of aerial transfer comprising an anchor ball on the end of the supporting cable for the load, a grapple member having a. hollow shell adapted to re-,

ceive said ball, pivoted fingers arranged at one end of said shell to embrace said ball, said flngers having outwardly projecting holding members, a locking member slidable axially on said 'shell and enclosing said holding members in normal position, and a detent for releasably holding said locking member in position to enclose said holding members. i

4. In a system of aerial transfer for mail, express and other loads between relatively movable air or water craft, a supporting means upon a movable craft, a load suspending member carried thereby and trailing therefrom, a hopper upon the companion craft, said hopper having a large mouth and a small throat, and a detachable connection between said load suspending member and the load, said detachable connection comprising an anchor on the load suspending member and a grapple attached to the load, a nose piece at the throat end of said hopper, and an open sided ring encircling said nose piece, said ring having a bafl attached to it adjacent its opening to straddle the latter, and means for attaching the load opposite said bail whereby said anchor upon emerging from said throat will pass through said ring and pick up said ball and ring and attached load.

5. In a system of aerial transfer for mail, express and other loads between relatively movable air orwater craft, a supporting means upon a movable craft, a load suspending member carried thereby and'trailing therefrom, a hopper upon the companion craft, said hopper having a large mouth and a small throat, and a .detachable connection between said load suspending member prising an anchor on the load suspending member and a grapple attached to the load, a nose piece at the throat end of said hopper, and an open sided ring encircling said nose piece, said nose piece having notches adjacent the seat for said ring, and said ring having a bail attached to it adjacent its opening to straddle the latter, the bail having projections adapted to enter said notches to support-the bail in alinement with said throat, whereby said anchor upon emerging from said throat will pass through said ring and pick up saidbail.

' 6. In a system of aerial transfer for mail, express and other loads between relatively movable air-or water craft, a supporting means upon a movable craft, a load suspending member carried thereby and trailing therefrom, a hopper upon the companion craft, said hopper having a large mouth and a small throat, and a detachable connection between said load suspending member and the load, said detachable connection comprising an anchor on the load suspending member anda grapple attached to the load, a nose piece at the throat end of said hopper, and an open sided ring encircling said nose piece, said nose piece having notches adjacent the seat 'for said ring, and said ring having a bail attached to it adjacent its opening to straddle the latter, the bail having projections adapted to enter said notches to support the bail in alinement with said throat, whereby said anchor upon emerging from said throat will pass through said ring and pick up said bail, and catapult tripping means in alinement with said ring.

-'I. A nose casting for the hopper of an aerial transfer of the character described having a small orifice and a slot in its upper side communicating therewith to pass the suspending cable and anchor, a seat for a ring surrounding said nose, and an external support on said nose for alining trip mechanism with said orifice.

8. A nose casting for the hopper of an aerial transfer of the character described having a small orifice and a slot in its upper side communicating therewith to pass the suspending cable and anchor, said upper side walls flaring upwards and outwards to constitute a protecting guard on each side of said slot, a seat for a ring surrounding said nose, and an external support on said nose for associated mechanism.

9. A nose casting for the hopper of an aerial transfer of the character described having a small orifice and a slot in its upper side communicating' therewith to pass the suspending cable and anchor, said upper side walls flaring upwards and outwards-to constitute a protecting guard on each side of said slot, anda seat for a ring surrounding said nose.

10. A ring shape grapple having an opening in one side, a long bail pivoted to said ring on each side of said opening, said bail having projections adapted to extend partly across said ring when said bail lies in radial alinement with said opening.

11. A ring shape grapple having an opening in one side and a long bail pivoted to said ring on each side of said opening.

LYTLE s. ADAMS. 

